Sunday 28 July 2013

Butter Tarts

 

 
Recipe Courtesy of Thibeault's Table
 
Ingredients
Pasty:
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/3 cup lard (or shortening)
- 5 to 6 tbsp. of ice water, or more as needed

Filling:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 1 egg
- 4 tbsp. butter, softened
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. vinegar
- pinch of salt

For Pastry:
1. Mix flour with salt, and cut in butter and lard.
2. Put flour mixture in bowl and add water mixing with a fork until pastry comes together.  Tip out onto a floured surface.  Quickly pat out and fold, a few times.  Form a ball and cut in two pieces.  Form each into a round flat disc and refrigerate for 1 hour.

For Filling:
1. In bowl, whisk together brown sugar, corn syrup, egg, butter, vanilla, vinegar and salt until blended; set aside.

On lightly floured surface, roll out pastry to 3mm thickness.  Using a round cookie cutter, cut out circles, rerolling scraps if necessary.

Fit into muffin cups.

Spoon in filling until three-quarters full.  If using raisins or nuts sprinkle in the bottom of shells.

Bake at 450F until filling is puffed and bubbly and pastry is golden, about 12 minutes.  Let stand on rack for 1 minute.  Run metal spatula around tarts to loosen; carefully slide spatula under tarts and transfer to rack to let cool.


Enjoy!

Saturday 27 July 2013

"Keep Calm" Cross Stitch


Hello All,
Here is my latest cross stitch creation.  I made it for myself to put in my craft area.  I found the pattern on Etsy from the "andwabisabi" shop.  They have a ton of cute simple patterns.

I found an idea on Pinterest to put the cross stitch on a canvas instead of framing it.  See the link here; Little Lovelies.


Enjoy!

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Sharpie Mug

 
 For my friend's birthday I decided to make her this cute mustache mug.  It is so simple.


Step 1:  Stencil a mustache (or whatever you wish put on your mug) onto the mug with a sharpie.
 

 
Step 2: Bake it in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
 
Let the mug cool, and then you can use it.  I would suggest washing it by hand before using.  You may want to wash it by hand all the time, just to make sure the stencil doesn't come off.
 
I got the idea from A Beautiful Mess.
 
Enjoy!